Nurse suspended for 'converting' Coimbatore UPHC sub-centre into her residence

COIMBATORE: The health department on Monday suspended an urban health staff nurse attached to the Vadavalli urban primary health centre (UPHC) for converting a UPHC sub-centre into her residence.

The nurse, identified as Kanitha, has been placed under suspension after a video of her husband and children occupying the UPHC sub-centre in VNR Nagar in violation of rules went viral on social media platforms. Her husband, Shyam Sunder, is a DMK member.

Local AIADMK members on Sunday recorded the video of her husband and children at the centre. They posted the video on various social media platforms.

Health department officials on Monday initiated an inquiry into the allegation against the nurse.

Dr P Balusamy, deputy director of health services, Coimbatore, said, "The nurse has been suspended for occupying more than the allocated space. Further inquiries are in progress, which will be completed in three to four days. Action will be taken based on the outcome of the inquiries. Meanwhile, the nurse has been directed to vacate the centre, and another nurse from the UPHC has been deployed for the interim period."

He clarified that an urban health nurse associated with a sub-centre is allowed to reside in the centre with the family and that it is not a violation. "Other sub-centres in the city and the district have a partition and a separate entry for the residence and the hospital. But the sub-centre in VNR Nagar had no such facility. Now measures have been initiated to make the partition for the residence and provide an alternative entry for the residing nurse towards the eastern side," he added.

"The facility is a sub-centre, but its nameboard suggested that it was a main UPHC. The nameboard is being repainted, and the right name will be written on it," he added.